WEEKLY MESSAGE January 7, 2018

Every year I have a list of Christmas movies I must watch, Elf, all versions of a Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street, Die Hard, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Christmas Vacation, Polar Express, and It’s a Wonderful Life. There are many more shows, commercials and movies we watch as a family all through December. One of my favorite movies to watch is The Nativity Story. I love how the movie depicts the 3 Magi.

In the picture above the 3 Magi have just given the baby Jesus his gifts. The gifts were gold “for the King of Kings,” frankincense, “for the Priest of all Priests,” and myrrh, “to honor the sacrifice.” What this movie brilliantly does is show the emotion of the Magi.

Gold recognizing Jesus as the one true King. Frankincense recognizing Jesus as a Priest. Myrrh symbolized pain, death and the afterlife. As a gift of the magi, it foretold of Jesus's suffering and death. Jesus was offered myrrh with wine to soothe him during the crucifixion. Myrrh also was used to anoint his body after his death.

They traveled miles and miles and they brought these gifts but it seems they didn’t fully understand the magnitude of what they were going to find, a baby born of a virgin who was God and man. They honored him as a King, and a Priest, and when the final Magi walked up to Jesus to present his gift they look at each other and you can feel the pain and sadness in them as they know this child must die for all of us to live.

Check out the movie The Nativity Story and if you see me after Mass or during praise and worship Saturday, let me know what you think.